The health of nearly half of Ireland’s fish stocks “could not be determined”, that’s according to a new report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The OECD’s fisheries report compared the health of fish across nearly 40 countries including Ireland using national data.
“There is considerable variation at the country level in the health status of conclusively assessed stocks”, the report warns.
Except Brazil, where all fish stock data was considered insufficient, the UK and Ireland were the worst for providing accurate information on the state of the fishery, according to the OECD.
When it came to 45 percent of the United Kingdom and 44 percent of Ireland’s fish stocks the “health could not be determined.”
The OECD says the report comes at “a critical juncture for international fisheries policy”.
“This year will see the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference take place in Nice as well as continued negotiations at the World Trade Organization on disciplines to eliminate environmentally harmful fisheries subsidies.”
“Now, more than ever, countries require strong evidence to take concrete actions for sustainable fisheries,” the OECD says.